Most of the information available at the time the WHO study was started came from developed countries and related to older brands of the pill that contained higher amounts of hormones. (See also previous press releases, namely WHO/92 of 15 December 1995 and WHO/55 of 22 August 1996.) The data available for the study of heart attack did not show a consistent difference in the risk of heart attack according to type of pill - i.e., those with higher or lower doses of estrogen. Also, as there were very few women in the study who were using pills containing the newer progestogens, gestodene and desogestrel, little could be learned about these types of pill and the risk of heart attack. Dr Neil Poulter of the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London Medical School, London, England, noted that, "Smoking, age over 35, and high blood pressure are serious risk factors for heart attack in women using the pill.

Since high blood pressure is also an important risk factor for stroke, the best way to ensure that pill users remain free from stroke and heart attack is to screen them for risk factors of cardiovascular disease before prescribing the pill and regularly during pill use". He also added that, "In the case of women who currently use the pill and smoke, they should be strongly encouraged to stop smoking."

Dr Olav Meirik, Head of the Research Component on Surveillance and Evaluation of HRP emphasized that, "Findings from this study provide further assurance that the pill is a safe contraceptive option for young healthy women in developing and developed countries".

this article is in 2 parts. this is part 2 click here for part 1

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